The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-06-18

ing the faith they have found sufficient for life so
our hearts pause in trcmuous pectation before the
closing scene in the unparalleled life OF this prison.
er of the Lord. o watchman, disappearing in the
settling miss of the everlasting sunset, what OF the
night? Speak out thy last word clear and strong
The thousands to whom thou hast blown the jubi-
liant notes of "Graee mercy and peace are waiting;
the millions yet to come to whom thy life and work
must be a moving inspiration or a paralyzng des-
pair are waiting. Paul, what after thirty years
Without pause he lays upon the hilished temple
ofChristian experience the eopestone OF
as counted them all things but loss for the excel
lency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord"
that have chosen as an appropriate theme for this
occasion.
Christ He thus gives us not only the thought but
the very word we desire. In the manifold relations
and connections between Christ and the individual
there is one connection through knowledgel or TO
use another translation equally faithful. science
We may speak then of the science of Christ and
we may find in the pursuit and possession Of this
science power and joy with which no other
science is to be compared, but for which II is the
highest wisdom TO count every other but loss.
There seems to be special fitness in emphasizing
this word in this presence. YOU my friends, have
caught the inspiration of knowledge. The sweet
promises of scientific research are turing you on
Your nature is opening more and more TO the har-
monies and majesties unfolding before you. The
earth is laying bare her treasures to you; the skies
bending in lowly ministry 10 whisper their Sc
crets in your ears; the mystic meanings of figure
and number and relation are growing into defni-
teness; the marvels of your own being dawning
upon YOU and the world is changing for you, be-
coming transformed, TRANSPORTED even, as you live
and move and have your being in science. II Is
we'll conquest long delayed, but none the less
certainly approaching is this subdung of the world
of mystery and hidden force by him whose charter
destines him to "have dominion"
II is my pleasant duty % call you 10 the fullest
expansion this charter. wish 10 persuade you
not to deny nor abdicae single right, but rather
10 add TO your already valuable possessions.
desire TO emphasize the fact that the pursuits of
this hour are in strict accord with those of
the wear Just closed; that when we greet you
In
the temple of science; that when we open before
you the Christians Bible, and call you to its mnor
tai themes we offering you not divine mystery
only not faith only. not a motive and inspiration
only but science an exact science. We are lead
ing YOU on from height to height. and engaging you
to into the labos and rewards of the depth of
the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of
God"
l. Let us assure ourselves, first, that we are not
using figures of speech and that such knowledge
this is possible TO us. That native opposition to God
in the human heart crying out TO ITSELF like
frightened child in the night. there is no God"
finds it constantly necessary to abandon efee forms
of denial while holding on to the substance. Men
used to reject God with boasting. We are strong
enough, said they without bringing in supernatural
power we arc wise enough. without bringing IN
supernatural wisdom. But now men reject God
with sigh. Alas" say they, "if there be such an
one God, he is too great too far from our little
sphere for our poor faculties TO apprehend him.
You tell us OF one who inhabiteth eternity whose
name is Holy. We do not deny, we do not assert,
we simply say agnosko, we do not know, we cannot
know" 1t is unnecessary to meet this last phase Of
atheism with elaborate argument One need use
only the simplest logic to show that this pretended
humility really arrogates to itself unbounded pre-
rogatiye For the agnostic not only assumes to
know all the powers and capabilities in man, so as
10 say with confidence: I'VE have searched him
with Il candle, and there is nothing in man that can
take hold of God; but even 10 50 fully know that
Being he processes TO be unable to know as to say
that God has no method TO reach the very intellect
| lie has created, that not only we not find Him
out but that He can not find us ont and reveal Hin
self TO US;
| tiyating IT may be, but absolutely in the air. One
| plain man comes into Court and calmly testites--
II knoip whom ! have believed" and the bubble
yanshes For the reasolahleness of the testimony
renders 1t as rrefutable as 1t is satisfying. If am
able TO know matter by It's contact with that which
by bringing TO II that which in me is intellectual
why may not also know Him who Is q Spirit by
teIescope The worlds Of the sky toll their elements
their motions their relations and callt science
Why should be forbidden In the name Of science
| from listening to the music OF these worlds
Forever singing as they shine,
| The hand that made us Is divine"
Where Is the essential difference between marking
the actions of men the overthrow Of kingdoms, The
science of history and reverenty attending to those
changes, those steps, those workings OF human &C
tivity towards ends higher and broader than human
wisdom could foresee or govern, and calling this
the science of Providence?
dreamer why should it be thought thing in
! credible with you that God should be known? Be
lievest thou thy reason, thy conscience? know
that thou beleyest.
other, and learn its eXcellenpe from its eerIqRtl
There ere three aYelqes by which We may gair
knowledge, and only three the senses, the inteleo
the spirit and all we know we have learned through
It IS the exceptional, the Incompatible glory of the
knowledge of Christ, that il has come to through
| them ALL In response TO the weakness and blind
ness of humanity He who enjoyed the fulness of the
man form, that our senses might take knowledge o.
Him. He spoke to US with human voice, touched
our weary SICK dead bodies with a human hand
manifested sympathy for human woe in human
signs and tears, and by many signs and wonders ap
proved Himself the Lord of Glory to those who
eyewitness of His majesty And the word was
made flesh and dwelt among u.s. and we beheld His
gl6Fy ha slorg q Of ts only eegotea the Father
Then for those who could not see hut might be;
leve with greater blessing he impressed Himself on
the page, OF history Here he approaches man
| to the observation, the criticism Of succeeding
ages. Here Il HIS record: His words. His works lis
lepse Wbat tbius W Of cSrst rApd these t6ng.
are written that ye may know Til 4 have eternal
Ile. and 9at ye may believe on the name Of the
But it was not suf,iciont-for profound reasoG "a
which We shall presently atend-that man might
Christ. There must be another entrance made
That soul made by Him, made for Him. must be
thrilled by the consciousness of His presence, And
that our klowledge may be entire. lacking nothing
lilo responds ~ the gracious declaration, BEHOLD,
stand at the door and knook ii any man hear my
voice and open the door, will come in to him, and
| will sup with him, and he with me-"
Now consider the true force of the inference to be
drawn from these observations. No man is equally
developed in all his receptive powers, but here is
a knowledge that demonstrates its universally by
its power % meet every man at that point of APP
proach where he is most sensitive TO knowledge.
No man feels willing to venture great interests
the testimony OF one faculty, but here knowledge
Thai gdIitr Of yerfcation from three independent
sources We MAY sanhoEt OFF sensfas BY orr reason
Whence is this knowledge. which Is SO unlike all
other: which has such marvellous adaptability and
/ trh lis nd l. wa n
discover in man? Who indeed could reveal uni
versal teaching but a universal teacher? We must
either refuse to go the next step Or be swept on TO
| the assurance that this knowledge is ofGod.
Think what this characteristic OF certainty must
have been to Paul; lie knew something Of the
| science Of this world. He was skilled in all the
learning oflh9 Iiebbs lJe Vas fRgliliaF With lheif
and letters, their triling traditions with which they
hedged about the law, leaving all scripture to the
mercy Of every mans fantastic reasoning and this
knowledge. so sound so clear, reasonable Ger.
tain, swept over his spirit like the breath of the
And think such knowledge will commend itself
to students OF the present day. They cannot be UNI
mindfnl-if they are not ignorant of the instability
of science as we know it, Indeed IL is the boast OF
its disciples that il is flexible and must ever wait
receptive for new knowledge. We know that the
science Of to-day is the refulation of the science of
yesteFdag, n,HrotheF Jasper" furnishes amusement
So Hi Sa a eenes ago RG
And to-day. among the highest authorities, text
books change, methods change, so called facts
change and must change to be true to their own
principles, for they arc built upon foundation of
uncertainty they assume that we do not as yet know,
No wonder Paul cries out, 81 consider all such know
edge but loss. II may gain that knowledge which
is certain, abiding"
III, To stop here in the discussion of this theme
would be unjust 10 the subject, We want certainty,
TO be sure; II is primary want, but we arc not
thoroughly furnished unto every good work when
we have attained to condition of rest in our knowl
edge, The mighty reasons for Pauls sacrifice are to
be traced in his expectations of the effects this
knowledge of Christ was to work in him.
10 And first, he expected righteousness as an out
come of his knowledge. That may be found in
him not having mine own Righteousness which is of
the law but that which is through the faith of Christ
the Righteousness which Is of God by faith"
1t is no doubt the effect of all knowledge to quick
en-. refine, elevate our faculties. knowledge is
power in making man master of his forces, and
knowledge is also culture. that nsensible influence
which envelopes and goes forth from the scholar
humanizing him, giving polish and symmetry TO
The whole n}a1. But, my friends, let US remember
we'll that pois6r Is not Fighteotsness power only
renders possible and actual the disposition of the
heart pnsancthed power knows no God but
giant no religion but hero-worship andno bible but
drifting from 1t to-daythat culture is at right
eousness. We may polish the walls of the sopuchre
as highly as the piars Of the temple II Is not the
tendency of unsanctifed culture to reach he heart
II may be content If the voice is gentle IL the word
is courteous, II the manner Is suave If the bearing
is refined, though beneath all this-al this worn as
a mask-there rage the fierce fires of heart cor
rupt hard selfish careless of all form and show
and applause.
SoY the knowledge of Christ aims at producing
Fighte04sness Not simply 10 correct mems errorS